Truck side frame



Jan- 3 1933. T. H. sYMlNGToN 1,892,859.

TRUCK S IDE FRAME Filed Nov.l l1, 1931 Patented `lan. 3, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE THOMAS H. SYMINGTON, DECEASED, LATE 0F BALTIMORE; MARYLAND, BY EDITH R.

SYMINGTON AND THOMAS R. SYMINGTON, EXECUTORS, 0F BALTIMORE, 'MARY- LAND, -ASSIGNORS T0 T. H. SYMINGTON & SON, INC., OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A

CORPORATION oF MARYLAND TRUCK sinn FRAME Application filed November 11, 1931. Serial No.` 574,435.-

provide a sidey frame in which the tension member is'located above the upper inner edge of the journal box in spaced relation thereto, that is to say not directly connected therewith though braced with respect thereto by transverse force transmitting elements..

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a side frame in which th'efbottom Wall or web of the tension member is in spaced relation to and above the upper `inner edge of the box and in which ribs are provided integral with the journal box and extending laterally from the sides of the tension member for transmitting to the latter the transverse forces or thrusts coming upon the journal box, these ribs obviating necessity for providing a direct tie or other connection between the journal box and the bottom web or wall of the tension member;

A further object is to provide a construction of this character in which the bottom wall or web of the tension member is bifurcated from a point above the upper inner edge of the box to the end, the webs defined by the bifurcation gradually increasing in thickness toward the points Where they merge into the sides of the compression member to compensate for reduction in the area resulting from the bifurcation. n

Yet another object is to provide a side frame in which a plurality of upstand'ing webs are provided rising from the roof of the journal box and. merging into the inner faces of the sides of the juncture of the compression and tension members, these webs providing sufficient reinforcement that the 'usual webs or ribs merging into the roof and the outer sides of the juncture may be omitted.

Furthermore it is an object to provide a construction of this character in which due provision is made to insure strength and rigidity without any chunkin'ess of the metal at any point or points.

An additional object is to provide a side frame possessing these meritorious characteristics and which will at the same time be as simple and no more expensive to make thanl one of ordinary pattern, in addition to being efficient and durable in service, and a general improvement in the art.

To the attainment of the foregoing and other objects and advantages, the invention preferably consists in the details of construction and the arrangement and combination of parts' to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a view of one-half of a sidel frame, the view being partly an elevation and partly a vertical longitudinal section,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan View, and

Figure 3 is a detail cross section taken on the line 3-3 o-f Figure 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawing which shows one-half of a side frame, this being suicient as both sides are identically the same. This frame comprises compression and tension members 5 and 6, respectively, converging at their outer ends and united with an integral journal box 7. At their inner portions these members are joined by column guides or pedestals 8 rising from theload supporting beam 9 which provides a seat 10 adapted to form a support for the usual or any preferred spring means for supporting the truck bolster, the bolster and springs being naturally located within the window opening V11 defined between the spaced column guides or pedestals 8. The juncture of the lower end of each column guide with the tension member 6 is preferably reinforced and the strain taken by inclined knees 12 and a somewhat similar structure 13 is provided at the juncture with the coin-pression member 5. Any ordinary or preferred brake hanger bracket 14 is also provided in association with the column guides. These details are described for the sake of clearness and completeness of the disclosure but the in-v-ention lies in the construction at the j ournalbox as will be described.

rlhe compression and tension membei's 5 and 6 are channel shaped in cross section with their open sides extending toward each other, these open sides being formed with stilieniiig beads l5 and 16, respectively. The outer end portion of the compression meniber 5 is rounded olf at l? from a point above the center of the ournal box to the outer side thereof and the top wall of the compression niembei' is cut away or bifurcated at 18 from this same point to the end, thus defining webs 19 which gradually taper olf or merge into the sides adjacent the end of the compression member. The confronting portions of the compression and tension members are united at a point approximately above the inner edge of the journal box and the beads l5 and 1G join at this point designa-ted at 20. Spaced inwardly from this point the confronting sides ofthe compression and tension members are joined by downwardly and outwardly inclined ties 2l preferably stiffened by means of ribs on their inner or confronting faces.

rlhe bottom wall of the tension member 6 does not run directly into the journal-box but is spaced therefrom and located an appreciable distance above the upper inner edge of the box as clearly shown in Figure l. For transmitting transverse forces from the box to the tension member, there is provided two external ribs 23 and 24 which extend diagonally upwardly and outwardly and which extend at right angles to the sides of the tension member and also at right angles to the web thereof so that the lateral thrusts originating in the journal box will be communicated properly to the tension member. The web 23 disappears or merges into the roof of the box near the forward edge or front thereof while the web 24 extends and merges into the dust guard wall 25 of the box. Though these webs are described as extending at right angles to the web of the tension member they do not connect therewith as they connect only with the sides.

Beginning at a point above the inner upper edge of the box the web of the tension member is bifurca-ted or cut away as shown at 26,

i tnereby defining webs 27 which taper oli" and meroe into the metal at the sides of the juncture of the compression and tension members. To compensate for the loss of area resulting from this bifurcation the webs 27 gradually increase the thickness as they appreach and merge at 28 into the met-al at the juncture referred to, this point being moreover above the center of the journal box. To stifen the journal box roof so that it will have sui'hcient strength and rigidity to oppose thrusts thereon, there is provided a plurality of substantially triangular ribs or webs merging into the roof of the box and into the inner sides of the metal at the juncture of the compression and tension menibers. These pairs of ribs are designated at 29 and 30 and it will be observed that the former are located beneath the webs 27 while the latter are located outwardly of the points 28. These pairs of ribs are located also at opposite sides of the longitudinal center' of the box and are preferably equi-distant from said center. By virtue of the provision of these pairs of ribs it will be unnecessary to provide the usual external ribs, that is to say ribs rising from the roof of the box and joined onto the outer sides of the juncture.

The neutral axis of each column guide is indicated by the line 3l and intersects the neutral axes 32 and 33 of the compression and tension members at the points 34 and 35, and the neutral axes 32 and 33 intersect at a point 36 above the center of the journal box, in fact immediately adjacent the point 28.

From the foregoing description and a study of the drawing it will be seen that there is thus provided a side frame which is used in exactly the saine manner as any other but which is a distinct departure from ordi` narily accepted designs in that while the sides of the tension and compression members merge into each other and into the journal box the web of the tension member is definitely spaced therefrom. Ample provision is made, by virtue of the existence of the webs or ribs 23 and 24, for properly transmitting lateral forces from the box to the tension member so that there will be unusual strength at this point. The box roof is well braced so as not to be subject to buckling or other distortion and in fact every contingency has been contemplated and provided for. It is believed from the above that the construction and advantages will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art without further explanation.

While there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that the disclosure is merely an exemplitication of the principles involved as the right is reserved to make all such changes in the details of construction as will widen the field of utility and increase the adaptability of the device provided such changes constitute no departure from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed:

l. In a side frame, compression and tension members converging at their outer ends and merging into each other and into an integral journal box, the tension member being of channel shape in cross section with its open side uppermost, the web or bottom wall of the tension member extending above the upper inner edge of the journal box and being free therefrom.

2. In a side fiame, compression and tension members converging at their outer ends and merging into each other and into an integral journal box, the tension member being of channel shape in cross section with its open side uppermost, the web or bottom wall of the tension member extending above the upper inner edge of the journal box and being in spaced relation thereto.

3. In a side frame, compression and tension members converging at their outer ends and merging into each other and into an integral journal box, the tension member being of channel shape in cross section with its open side uppermost, the web or bottom wall of the tension member extending above the upper inner edge of the journal box and being in spaced relation thereto, and means connecting the sides of the tension member with the journal box for transmitting lat-eral forces from the latter to the former.

4. In a side frame, compression and tension members converging at their outer ends and merging into each other and into an integral journal box, the tension member being of channel shape in cross section with its open side uppermost, the web or bottom wall of the tension member extending above the upper inner edge of the ournal box and being in spaced relation thereto, and ribs joined' to the upper inner edge portion of the ournal box and merging into the sides of the tension member.

5. In a side frame, compression and tension members converging at their outer ends and merging into each other and into an integral journal box, the tension member being of channel shape in cross section with its open side uppermost, the web or bottom wall of the tension member extending above the upper inner edge of the journal box and being in spaced relation thereto, and' diagonal ribs extending upwardly from the upper inner edge portion of the journal box and merging into the sides of the tension member in right angular relation thereto.

6. In a side frame, compression and tension members converging at their outer ends and merging into each other and into an integral journal box, the tension member being of channel shape in cross section with its open side uppermost, theV web or bottom wall of the tension member extending above the upper inner edge of the journal box and being in spaced relation thereto, and diagonal ribs extending upwardly from the upper inner edge portion of the journal box and merging into the sides of the tension member in right angular relation thereto, one of said ribs disappearing adjacent the front of the box and the other extending to the dust guard wall thereof.

7. In a side frame, compression and tension members converging at their outer ends and having their sides merging into each other and into an integral journal box, said tension member havmg a bottom'web tures.

EDITH R. SYMINGTON, THOMAS R. SYMINGTON, Eecwfors of the Estate of Thomas H.

Symz'agton, Deceased. 

